Wacousta : a tale of the Pontiac conspiracy — Volume 3 eBook

Bounding over the ill-fated De Haldimar, who lay,
even in death, firmly clasped in the embrace of the
wretched Ellen, the fierce man dashed furiously forward
to renew his pursuit of the fugitives. But suddenly
the extremity of the bridge was filled with a column
of armed men, that kept issuing from the arch beneath.
Sensible of his danger, he sought to make good his
retreat; but when he turned for the purpose, the same
formidable array met his view at the opposite extremity;
and both parties now rapidly advanced in double quick
time, evidently with a view of closing upon and taking
him prisoner. In this dilemma, his only hope
was in the assistance that might be rendered him by
his warriors. A yell, so terrific as to be distinctly
heard in the fort itself, burst from his vast chest,
and rolled in prolonged echoes through the forest.
It was faintly answered from the encampment, and met
by deep but noiseless curses from the exasperated
soldiery, whom the sight of their murdered officer
was momentarily working into frenzy.

“Kill him not, for your lives!—­I
command you, men, kill him not!” muttered Captain
Blessington with suppressed passion, as his troops
were preparing to immolate him on their clustering
bayonets. “Such a death were, indeed, mercy
to such a villain.”

“Ha! ha!” laughed Wacousta in bitter scorn;
“who is there of all your accursed regiment
who will dare to take him alive?” Then brandishing
his tomahawk around him, to prevent their finally
closing, he dealt his blows with such astonishing
velocity, that no unguarded point was left about his
person; and more than one soldier was brought to the
earth in the course of the unequal struggle.”

“By G—­d!” said Captain Erskine,
“are the two best companies of the regiment
to be kept at bay by a single desperado? Shame
on ye, fellows! If his hands are too many for
you, lay him by the heels.”

This ruse was practised with success. In attempting
to defend himself from the attack of those who sought
to throw him down, the warrior necessarily left his
upper person exposed; when advantage was taken to
close with him and deprive him of the play of his
arms. It was not, however, without considerable
difficulty, that they succeeded in disarming and binding
his hands; after which a strong cord being fastened
round his waist, he was tightly lashed to a gun, which,
contrary to the original intention of the governor,
had been sent out with the expedition. The retreat
of the detachment then commenced rapidly; but it was
not without being hotly pursued by the band of warriors
the yell of Wacousta had summoned in pursuit, that
they finally gained the fort: under what feelings
of sorrow for the fate of an officer so beloved, we
leave it to our readers to imagine.